STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3041

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2817

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the University of Hawaii to establish five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) faculty positions in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to provide for additional extension specialist and extension agent positions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Your Committee finds that there are significant gaps in the reach of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension programs due to staff vacancies. Your Committee further finds that the Cooperative Extension programs rely on the knowledge and experience of county extension agents and extension specialists to extend research‑based knowledge from the land-grant university out to the residents and agricultural producers of the State. Your Committee also finds that these positions are essential for the health and well-being of Hawaii's agricultural producers and consumers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair